The last day of the year in Japan is called Omisoka. There are many traditions on this day, some related to food (toshi-koshi buckwheat noodles), some even related to… TV shows (the Kōhaku Uta Gassen music contest)…
But my favorite Omisoka tradition, to which I attended a couple of times, is more of a spiritual kind: called Joya no Kane 「除夜の鐘」, it is a ceremony held at Buddhist Temples, exactly at midnight.

The ceremony consists in 108 bell chimes - 108 is a sacred number in Buddhism and according to Buddhist beliefs, the 108 bell chimes are symbolizing the purification from the 108 delusions and sufferings accumulated in the past year. So you’ll be ready to start anew in the new year…

Tōdai-ji Temple, Nara

EXIF Info:

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Takarabune, the 7 Lucky Gods Ship